Key Events and Ideas in Modern History

Economic crisis

High taxes, food shortages, national debt.

Inequality among the three estates

Disparities in wealth and power among the clergy, nobility, and commoners.

Enlightenment ideas

Promoting democracy and individual rights.

Weak leadership under Louis XVI

Inability to effectively govern and respond to crises.

Influence of the American Revolution

Inspired revolutionary ideas and actions in France.

Estates General

A legislative assembly representing the three estates of France.

First Estate

Clergy.

Second Estate

Nobility.

Third Estate

Commoners (bourgeoisie, urban workers, peasants).

Storming of the Bastille

July 14, 1789; a prison fortress in Paris symbolizing the end of absolute monarchy.

Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen

Liberty, equality, fraternity; rights to freedom of speech, press, and religion.

Committee of Public Safety

Formed to protect the revolution from enemies.

The Terror

Period of political purges and executions led by Robespierre.

Major Reforms of Napoleon

Napoleonic Code (legal equality), centralized government, efficient tax system, public education system.

Nationalism

Loyalty to one's nation, culture, and shared history expressed through unification movements and revolts.

Agricultural Revolution Impact

Increased food supply, population growth, rural workers moved to cities.

Natural resources

Materials or substances occurring in nature which can be exploited for economic gain.

Stable government

A government that is consistent and predictable in its policies and operations.

Capital for investment

Financial resources available for investment in business ventures.

Innovation

The introduction of new ideas, methods, or products.

Spinning Jenny

An innovation that increased textile production.

Steam engine

An innovation that powered machinery and transport.

Power loom

An innovation that allowed for faster weaving of cloth.

Urbanization

The movement of people to cities for work.

Tenement Housing

Overcrowded, unsanitary apartment buildings for working-class families.

Factory Act of 1833

Reform law that limited child labor.

Imperialism

Domination of one country over another politically, economically, or culturally.

16th Century Imperialism

Focused on exploration and trade.

19th Century Imperialism

Characterized by more aggressive colonization and control.

Motives for Imperialism

Economic gain, political power, nationalism, missionary efforts.

Social Darwinism

Justification for imperialism through the idea of 'survival of the fittest'.

White Man's Burden

Belief that Europeans had a duty to civilize non-Europeans.

Berlin Conference (1884-85)

Divided Africa among European powers with no regard for native cultures.

African Resistance

Ethiopia (Menelik II) resisted successfully; most others failed due to lack of technology.

Apartheid

Legalized racial segregation in South Africa.

Sepoy Rebellion (1857)

Indian soldiers rebelled against British over cultural/religious insensitivity.

Gandhi's Role

Led nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience.

Hinduism

Belief in reincarnation, karma, dharma, with major gods Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva.

Karma vs Dharma

Karma: Actions and consequences; Dharma: Duty based on caste and age.

Caste System

Rigid social structure based on birth and occupation.

Buddhism

Founded by Siddhartha Gautama, spread to China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia.

Four Noble Truths

Life is suffering; suffering is caused by desire; end desire to end suffering; follow the Eightfold Path.

Nirvana

Enlightenment; release from the cycle of rebirth.

Five Relationships (Confucianism)

Ruler-subject, father-son, husband-wife, older brother-younger brother, friend-friend.

Manchu Decline

Caused by corruption, peasant unrest, and foreign invasions.

Opium Wars

Britain sold opium to China, leading to addiction crisis and war.

Treaty of Nanking (1842)

Gave Britain Hong Kong and opened ports to trade.

Extraterritorial Rights

Foreigners not subject to Chinese laws in treaty ports.

Spheres of Influence

Areas where foreign powers controlled trade and investment.

Open Door Policy

U.S. policy to keep China open to all for trade.

Boxer Rebellion (1900)

Anti-foreigner uprising crushed by allied powers.

Revolution Alliance

Group led by Sun Yat-sen to overthrow Qing dynasty.

Sun Yat-sen

Founded Republic of China; promoted nationalism, democracy, livelihood.

Chiang Kai-shek

Nationalist leader in China.

Mao Zedong

Communist leader who came to power after the civil war.

Cultural Revolution (1966)

Mao's campaign to enforce communism and eliminate old ideas.

Feudal System in Japan

Structure with Emperor (figurehead), Shogun (real ruler), Daimyo (landowners), Samurai (warriors).

Bushido

Code of honor for Samurai.

Seppuku

Ritual suicide for honor.

Tokugawa Reforms

Policies of isolation, strict social order, and peace.

Commodore Perry & Kanagawa Treaty (1854)

Forced Japan to open to U.S. trade.

Meiji Reforms

Modernization of military, education, industry, and government.

Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905)

Japan defeated Russia; first Asian victory over a European power.

Causes of WWI

Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism (MAIN).

Central Powers

Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire.

Allied Powers

Britain, France, Russia, Italy, U.S.

Schlieffen Plan

Germany's plan to avoid a two-front war by invading France via Belgium.

Trench Warfare

Stalemate warfare characterized by barbed wire, machine guns, tanks, and gas.

Important Battles of WWI

Verdun: Longest battle; Marne: Stopped German advance; Somme: Massive casualties; Gallipoli: Allied failure in Turkey.

U.S. Entry into WWI

Triggered by German submarine warfare and the Zimmermann Telegram.

Treaty of Versailles

Blamed Germany, imposed heavy reparations, and created the League of Nations.

Capitalism vs Communism

Capitalism: Private ownership; Communism: Classless society, shared ownership.

Russian Revolution Causes

Caused by WWI losses, economic hardship, and poor leadership (Tsar Nicholas II).

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

Ended Russian involvement in WWI.

Lenin & Bolsheviks

Led the revolution, promising 'Peace, Land, Bread'.

Russian Civil War

Conflict between Reds (Bolsheviks) and Whites (anti-communists); Reds won.

Causes of the French Revolution

Political, Social, Economic factors leading to the revolution.

Political Causes of the French Revolution

Absolute monarchy under Louis XVI gave the people no voice in government; Enlightenment ideas promoted democracy and rights.

Social Causes of the French Revolution

The Three Estates created deep inequality, with the First and Second Estates having privileges while the Third Estate paid taxes and lacked rights.

Economic Causes of the French Revolution

France was in deep debt due to war and lavish royal spending; bad harvests led to food shortages and rising bread prices hurt the poor.

Positive Consequences of the Industrial Revolution

Technological innovation, mass production, economic growth, and rise of the middle class.

Negative Consequences of the Industrial Revolution

Poor working conditions, urban slums, pollution, and labor exploitation until reforms like the Factory Act of 1833.

British Imperialism in India

Britain sought raw materials and a market for goods; built railroads and schools but destroyed local industries and imposed taxes.

Sepoy Rebellion

A 1857 uprising in India sparked by cultural disrespect and military grievances, which was brutally suppressed.

European Imperialism in Africa

Motivated by competition for colonies, raw materials, and prestige; arbitrary borders from the Berlin Conference divided ethnic groups.

Resistance in Africa

Many African groups resisted European imperialism, with Ethiopia successfully resisting Italian colonization under Menelik II.

Impact of the Meiji Restoration

Abolished feudalism, restored emperor's power, created constitutional government, and rapidly industrialized Japan.

Great Leap Forward

A 1958 campaign by Mao Zedong to industrialize China using communes, which caused mass famine.

Cultural Revolution

A 1966 movement by Mao Zedong to purge 'old ideas', leading to the destruction of art and persecution of intellectuals.

WWI Strategies vs Technology

Generals used outdated tactics like mass charges, which failed against new weapons like machine guns and poison gas.

Battle of the Somme

A 1916 battle with over 1 million casualties due to outdated strategies.

Goals of the Treaty of Versailles

Britain and France aimed to punish Germany; the U.S. sought self-determination and the League of Nations.

Effectiveness of the Treaty of Versailles

Short-term peace but long-term failure, creating German resentment that contributed to the rise of Hitler.

Powerful Leaders in History

Leaders like Napoleon, Mao Zedong, and Hitler significantly influenced their nations and world events.

Intellectual Movements in History

Movements like Enlightenment, Nationalism, and Communism inspired revolutions and shaped modern societies.